Did I just get taken

[peanutsmommy10]

I received an offer from direct buy if I attended a 90 min presentation I would get a free restaurant.com gift card and a free kindle. A $249 value, no obligation whatsoever no purchase necessary. So I went to this thing and at the end the guy tells me here's your gc but the kindle we are out of and presents me with a piece of paper saying the kindle will be mailed to me in 2-4 weeks. I questioned him further and asked for a manager. He got all huffy and said I was accusing him of lying. I told him I was told on the phone when I made the appt I would receive the kindle for free right at the presentation. He brought me to another person who said they're expecting a shipment in tonight and come back tomorrow after 2 pm. I'm worried this was a scam. The gc u basically spend money to get money. Anyone dealt with this. Thanks

 

[*Flower*]

DirectBuy is pretty reputable, but I hope that you wrote down the names of the people you spoke with.
Did you ask them to contact you in any way when the shipment arrives?

Keep us posted on the status of this issue.

Good luck!

 

[peanutsmommy10]

I have the piece of paper I was given and I told them I would be coming back tomorrow afternoon. I do know the guys name I dealt with but I'm scared because I just read all these horror stories on the Internet about them

 

[Tink-aholic]

DirectBuy is pretty reputable...

 

[momto2inKC]

My thoughts exactly! I don't think i've ever heard anyone speak positive about them.

 

[*Flower*]

Well, I know some local people here who were satisfied with the quality of goods purchased, but checking the BBB never hurts...... flame suit donned now..... burn away!!

 

[tinkarooni]

I have the piece of paper I was given and I told them I would be coming back tomorrow afternoon. I do know the guys name I dealt with but I'm scared because I just read all these horror stories on the Internet about them

Well, I could see being irritated but "scared" ? What are you scared of, worse comes to worse you don't get your free kindle, you live, you learn.

 

[peanutsmommy10]

Ok true lol you're rig scared wasn't the right word.

 

[LJSquishy]

I'm sure they ran out as they said and you will get your Kindle when they get a new shipment in.

If not, oh well. It was free -- you didn't spend money to get it, so you can't really be "taken". I'm sure you will get it since they gave you the flyer or whatever it was. Hopefully they have them in tomorrow.

 

[momxx5]

FWIW, I'd sit through a 90 min presentation to get a Kindle.....without hesitation.

 

[scrapquitler]

FWIW, I'd sit through a 90 min presentation to get a Kindle.....without hesitation.

Yeah me too. I guess you have to be strong willed enough to be able to keep saying NO

 

[peanutsmommy10]

Ok true lol you're rig scared wasn't the right word.

 

[NYCDiane]

I hope you didn't sign up for their "club" if that's what you meant by hoping you didn't get taken because you also said (re: the gift card) you spend money to get money.

From what I've heard and read, they are a huge ripoff. I love their commercials: "I just saved sixty THOUSAND dollars on cabinets for my home". $60 THOUSAND on cabinets??? Is your entire home made of cabinets????? Just from their commercials, you can tell what a scam they are! (In my opinion of course!)

 

[Seahunt]

I hope you didn't sign up for their "club" if that's what you meant by hoping you didn't get taken because you also said (re: the gift card) you spend money to get money.

From what I've heard and read, they are a huge ripoff. I love their commercials: "I just saved sixty THOUSAND dollars on cabinets for my home". $60 THOUSAND on cabinets??? Is your entire home made of cabinets????? Just from their commercials, you can tell what a scam they are! (In my opinion of course!)

Not just your opinion - read this from Consumer Reports about going undercover at DirectBuy :

To evaluate the pitch, we went undercover at two DirectBuy franchises in New York. Both gave us the same hard sell and offers of up to 70 percent off retail prices if we were to join. Only after an hour and a half of sales pitches and video testimonials from members did we learn the membership fee: $4,900 to $4,990 (plus tax) for three years and then $190 a year for seven more. Financing is available at 17.75 percent.

After the fee disclosure, we discovered that we had to sign up on the spot or never come back. We couldn’t bring DirectBuy’s “confidential” prices elsewhere to comparison shop, the representatives said, because this would likely anger retailers who might then retaliate against the manufacturers by refusing to sell their merchandise.

The fine print in the DirectBuy contract says you cannot return items, cancel orders, or terminate your membership. When we asked if, after plunking down $5,000, we could cancel and get a refund, a salesperson said, “You’ll have to check state law.” A review of New York state law revealed that the three-day cooling-off period for canceling contracts wouldn’t apply in this case.

Tacked onto the cost of merchandise—which you select from catalogs since DirectBuy has limited showrooms—are a 6 percent handling fee, shipping fees, and tax. Goods are typically shipped only to your local center, so you might pay additional fees to actually get your new stuff home.

Just how good are the prices? We compared them against those of other retailers. Prices for electronics and appliances were often only slightly better than those at online retailers and in some instances higher. For example, a 46-inch JVC flat-screen TV selling for $2,586 on DirectBuy’s site cost $2,095 elsewhere. We did find deep discounts on flooring and high-end furniture. In fact, one member we interviewed estimated that she saved about $50,000 over several years on furniture and a kitchen remodel using DirectBuy. Yet the club did poorly on some basics. We found a Kohler bath faucet for $300 less on a kitchen-and-bath Web site.

Some DirectBuy members complained to us about poor customer service and long waits for merchandise. But since DirectBuy outlets are franchises, service varies by location. Most outlets have a good record with the Better Business Bureau, though some have a poor one or have been suspended from the BBB.

The Bottom Line
The lack of price transparency makes it hard to evaluate whether you’ll save by joining DirectBuy. But even if you were to save 25 percent on purchases after joining, you’d need to spend more than $20,000 just to recoup your membership fee. DirectBuy might save you money if you’re furnishing a house from scratch or doing a major renovation. But since you can’t shop around beforehand, you’ll be joining blind.

 

[peanutsmommy10]

Thanks I did NOT sign anything. Never intended to. I just want to know since they aren't really legit, if I will actually get my kindle I was promised and lured in there under or is it a scam? Has anyone ever done this before? I've done the timeshares and always gotten what was promised but this was a little different.

 

[MapleGirl]

Let us know when you go back today if you get your Kindle. Good luck!

 

[Judique]

Thanks I did NOT sign anything. Never intended to. I just want to know since they aren't really legit, if I will actually get my kindle I was promised and lured in there under or is it a scam? Has anyone ever done this before? I've done the timeshares and always gotten what was promised but this was a little different.

Based on this post, I would say it doesn't matter whether you get the Kindle or not.

You were taking advantage of an offer and knew in advance you didn't want the product. So your hands aren't really clean.

Direct Buy = not for me. I am not saying that I don't think they are legitimate. It's just that I prefer to be able to shop around. I want to have more control over my major purchases.

In response to your question, I think you'll probably get the Kindle.

 

[LSchrow]

Well, I know some local people here who were satisfied with the quality of goods purchased, but checking the BBB never hurts...... flame suit donned now..... burn away!!

we were ."members." for a few years.
actually, i agree with you, flower .
we found the prices on high end furniture, cabintry, appliances, etc to be significantly lower (50% or more, inclusive of shipping, etc) than any other retail establishment. we did get a great deal on tv's by going through a local place they recommended.
my brother and a few frinds have saved a ton of money buying throuogh them, BUT they have multi-million dollar homes, kitchen remodels that cost over $100,000, bathroon remodels that have appeared in magazines, extremelly high-end furniture, etc.
we decided direct buy was not for us, as our remodeling plans were not extensive, and we prefer the hunt for (and labor required of) actual antiques over buying something that looks like one. as we have pets, upholstered furniture is better off being less expensive and replacable.
btw, in certain states, there isn't a fee.
(side note: we do sunscribe to CR, but use them as a guideline only. we bought a ford based on their "recommendations", that cost us many times over in repairs than the original cost, yet our jeeps - which they don't recommend - have lasted over many, MANY years and way over 100k, with only minimal repairs).
i really think you will get your kindle, but just wanted to note that there is a niche that directbuy actually does work well for (just not us).

 

[timmac]

Based on this post, I would say it doesn't matter whether you get the Kindle or not.

You were taking advantage of an offer and knew in advance you didn't want the product. So your hands aren't really clean.

On the contrary, she's just beating them at their own game. I doubt there was anywhere in the offer that said "you must come in with a perfectly open mind, and be willing to buy what we're selling, sight and price unseen".

 

[peanutsmommy10]

exactly. They said no purchase necessary. Free gift just for listening to a 90 min session, which I did. I did get my kindle today, not the one I was told but it's a kindle. Just the basic one. It wasn't a $249 value but whatever. I'm happy. Still, after all their complaints I wouldn't use them though.